Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 172

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

पूर्वोत्पन्नौ पुरा तेभ्यः सर्वेषामपि पूर्वजौ व्यतीते त्वष्टमे कल्पे पुराणौ लोकसाक्षिणौ

Transliteration

pūrvotpannau purā tebhyaḥ sarveṣāmapi pūrvajau vyatīte tvaṣṭame kalpe purāṇau lokasākṣiṇau

Translation

Born before all others in ancient time, those two were the eldest of all. Having endured beyond the eighth kalpa, they stand as the ancient ones—witnesses of the worlds—abiding through the cycles of creation and dissolution under the Lord (Pati).

Word by Word

• पूर्वोत्पन्नौ: born earlier/primordial

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient time

• तेभ्यः: than them/from them

• सर्वेषाम्: of all

• अपि: even/indeed

• पूर्वजौ: the two elders/first-born (dual)

• व्यतीते: having passed/elapsed

• त्वष्टमे: in the eighth (kalpa)

• कल्पे: in a cosmic aeon

• पुराणौ: the two ancient ones (dual)

• लोकसाक्षिणौ: the two witnesses of the worlds (dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames the sacred narrative in kalpa-time: Linga worship is anchored in the recognition of the eternal Witness (Pati) who remains when kalpas pass, making the Linga a symbol of what outlasts creation and dissolution.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By emphasizing “witness of the worlds” and endurance beyond kalpas, the verse points to Shiva-tattva as the abiding Pati—transcendent, beginningless, and not limited by the changing states of srishti and pralaya.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pashupata-Yogic takeaway is sākṣī-bhāva (witness-consciousness): the pashu loosens pasha (bondage) by contemplating the world as transient and Shiva as the enduring witness, a contemplative support for Linga-puja and japa.